Calcot steam train on track

Division 4 West champions Calcot Lokomotiv could face their biggest test of the season on Sunday when they play Celtic Rangers in the Treasurers Cup semi-final. Plus, Adam Lee looks at all the big Sunday League clashes this weekend.

Division 4 West champions Calcot Lokomotiv could face their biggest test of the season on Sunday when they play Celtic Rangers in the Treasurers Cup semi-final.

Rangers have been sensational in Division 4 East so far this season, winning 14 out of their 15 games and scoring 131 goals in the process – an average of just under nine a game.

They have four players who have scored 20 goals or over, with left-winger Phil Tavola currently on 35 goals, and striker Mattie Brown on an incredible 65.

But Calcot manager Graham Smith, despite being wary of the goalscoring prowess of his opponents, believes his side have the ability to contain them and book a place in the final themselves.

He is sure that his side, already assured of Division 3 football next season, can raise their game on Sunday at Lower Whitley Rec (kick off 10.30am).

“It’s a bit worrying how many goals they’ve scored but we went to look at them last week and we know who their danger men are and who to man mark,” said Smith. “I’m hoping we’ve got players who can deal with them.

“It’s going to be a difficult game and I’d class us as the underdogs for sure, but that could make it better for us. If you think a game is easy you don’t play to your full potential so everyone of the boys knows that they’ll have to play at their best.”

Celtic player/manager Phillip Woolford, 20, goes into the game full of confidence that his side can progress to the final at Scours Lane.

Due to an abandoned fixture with fellow title chasers Woodley Linkz earlier in the season, it seems certain that Celtic will win their division, and Woolford believes a league and cup double in the club’s first season would be a dream come true.

“All we need to do is win the last game and we’ll win the league,” said Woolford, who also plays at centre-half for Celtic. “A final would be the icing on the cake – like we’ve really achieved something – and it would be a great day out. In our first season as well it would be amazing.

“I think we’ve got the better team out of the three (in the semi finals) and we’ve got to be confident.”

Mapledurham Cavaliers Res take on Division 4 West runners-up YMCA United in the other semi-final.

Elsewhere in the Reading Sunday League, the Senior Division’s ‘big three’ are all in action as Dee Road travel to Emmer Green, Whitley Tavern travel to South Stoke, and Stevie B’s are at Southcote Video.

The Division 1 East title race could look very different on Sunday night depending on the outcome of the Woodley Hammers Res and Wrightchoice game.

Wrightchoice will be looking to avenge a 2-1 reverse against Hammers a couple of weeks back, while the in-form home side have been boosted by former Stevie B’s manager Mike Munday taking up a role as caretaker boss.

In Division 2 West, Kennet Valley have a chance to close the gap on leaders Diamond Black when the two go head to head. Diamond, however, will be hoping to bounce back after the disappointing 4-1 loss to AFC Crowmarsh last week.